Students from the Macao Polytechnic Institute (MPI) bring honour to Macao by claiming the Regional Championship title and bringing home distinction awards in both ‘Consecutive Interpreting’ and ‘Invited Competition of Simultaneous Interpreting’ categories at the 5th All China Interpreting Contest (ACIC) in Beijing on 4th and 5th June. The ACIC is heralded as the most prestigious interpreting contest in China.

Zhang JingYi, a fourth-year student of the Bachelor of Arts in Chinese-English Translation and Interpretation programme at MPI, won the Regional Championship and a Distinction Award in consecutive interpreting under the guidance of Associate Professor Lily Lim. Also participating in the competition was another MPI fourth-year translation student Leong Chon, who won a Distinction Award in the ‘Invited Competition of Simultaneous Interpreting’ under the guidance of Associate Professor Ao Vai Heng. Heralded as China’s most prominent interpreting contest, this year’s ACIC was organised by the Translation Association of China (TAC) and China Translation Corporation and co-hosted by the Global Tone Communication Technology Co. Ltd (GTC). The national final was held on 4th and 5th June at the Department of Foreign Languages, Capital University of Economics and Business (Beijing). 

This year’s ACIC saw a total of 1,814 contestants from 20 provinces and 439 universities in China. Contestants were required to pass all preliminary, semi-final and regional qualifying rounds which were held over six months. The best interpreters were then eligible to enter the national final in Beijing which included the ‘Invited Competition of Simultaneous Interpreting, ‘Consecutive Interpreting Final - Individual’ and ‘Regional’ categories. In the Regional category contestants from the same region competed as one team; this year the contest featured teams from East China, Central China, North China, South China, West China and Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan regions respectively. Zhang JingYi from MPI was in the same team with two other students from Macao and Hong Kong universities to represent the Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan regions. The team gave their best performance in the first round known as the ‘Nine Grid’ contest, producing quick, smooth and highly accurate translations to clinch the top spot. On entering the second round ‘Up For Grabs’ the team again secured extra points with their breadth of knowledge. Having attained the highest scores among many other strong opponents, the team finally won the title of Regional Championship which was a great honour to MPI and Macao.

Zhou Yu, Director of the English Division under the Department of Translation and Interpretation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China, provided comments on the contestants’ performance in terms of their language skills, comprehensive competence and learning abilities while citing her own working experience. Zhou also gave her best wishes to all those participating in the competition.  Guests who attended the contest to present prizes to winners included Wang GangYi, who is Vice President of China International Publishing Group, council member of the International Federation of Translators, Executive Vice President & Secretary General of TAC and Executive President of China Academy of Translation; Yu Yang, Chief Executive Officer of GTC Technology Co. Ltd as well as Professor Xu Fang, Vice President of the Capital University of Economics and Business.

Macao Polytechnic Institute is one of Macao’s higher education institutions with the longest history of offering translation programmes since 1905, and has since then played a crucial role in training translators and interpreters for Macao and neighbouring regions. Graduates of MPI’s translation programmes have earned a good reputation among employers. MPI encourages students to participate in regional and international translation contests at which they have won numerous awards. The Bachelor’s programme in Chinese-English Translation and Interpretation offered by MPI is aligned with international standards. The Institute’s teaching quality and research management, together with its student support services, are widely recognised by international academic accreditation agencies.

MPI student Zhang JingYi wins a Distinction Award at the All China Interpreting Contest National Final. Zhang is pictured with her instructor, Associate Professor Lily Lim.	MPI student Leong Chon wins a Distinction Award at the All China Interpreting Contest National Final, bringing great honour to Macao. Leong is pictured with his instructor, Associate Professor Ao Vai Heng.
In the media: Jornal Ou Mun / Macao Daily News Jornal Cheng Pou / Cheng Pou News Jornal Hou Kong / Hou Kong Daily News Gabinete de Comunicação Social / Government Information Bureau	MPI student Zhang JingYi (second from the right) wins Regional Championship and Distinction Award (Consecutive Interpreting - Individual Category) at the All China Interpreting Contest National Final.